Spanish Basketball League Agrees To Use Instant Replay, Makes Other Rule Changes

Following the Spanish Basketball League's (ACB) General Assembly on Wednesday, the league decided that starting next season, referees will have access to instant replay to review questionable plays, according to EL PAIS. Officials will be able to review plays to "not only see whether a shot was released before time ran out on the clock, but also in other situations including out of bounds calls, whether a shot was a two or three-pointer and to correct mistakes involving the game and or shot clock." Instant replay "will only be available in games broadcast on TV." The system "is not perfect," but the technology "will help make errors less common." The ACB has "also adapted to the rules of FIBA in some cases," and "followed NBA rules in other aspects: contested possessions will be decided by a jump ball" (EL PAIS, 7/24).

MANRESA ADDED: The EFE reported the ACB also ratified the addition of Bàsquet Manresa to the league. The ACB General Assembly vote was the "last formality that Manresa was missing after being relegated last season." Bàsquet Manresa President Josep Vives called the process "extraordinarily hard" (EFE, 7/24).